Sainsbury's starts the hunt for a new boss for when chief executive Justin King departs

Sainsbury’s is understood to have spoken with headhunters to work out a succession plan for when chief executive Justin King departs, it emerged this weekend.

Britain’s third-biggest supermarket insisted talk of a replacement was ‘premature’. But with board-level executives typically on 12-month contracts, succession plans would be expected to take at least a year to complete.

Headhunter firm Egon Zehnder is understood to have identified a list of possible replacements, with group commercial director Mike Coup in pole position.

But sources told The Mail on Sunday that external candidates may include John Dixon, who runs Marks & Spencer’s food business, and Kate Swann, who will step down from WH Smith in two months.

But foreign candidates are also likely to be considered after several major retailers such as New Look and Argos went overseas to find key executives recently.

More...

King was poached from Marks & Spencer’s Food business to run Sainsbury’s in 2004 and has been credited with a marked revival in the chain’s fortunes.

A Sainsbury’s spokeswoman said: ‘Justin has made his commitment to the business clear and is excited about the opportunities to grow and develop it. Any discussion of succession is totally premature.’

In recent years King has worked closely with his son Jordan, who has developed a promising motor racing career, leading some to suggest King as a possible replacement for Formula 1 boss Bernie Ecclestone.

Share or comment on this article:

Sainsbury's starts the hunt for a new boss for when chief executive Justin King departs